H-1B visa applications set record

Last month we wrote a post regarding the acceptance of H-1B applications for fiscal year 2016. In that post we indicated that petitions for the visa begin to be accepted six months before the employment start date of October 1, 2015. In this post we will provide an update on the matter.

Last week it was reported that the number of application received for the tech visas is at a record high. As of that time, 233,000 petitions for the 85,000 available work visas had been received. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services indicated that the visas will be awarded via the use of a computer-generated lottery. According to the USCIS’s website, processing will begin by May 11.

As readers have likely already gleaned, the large difference in the amount of applications and the available visas will probably leave some employers upset with their chances of securing highly skilled foreign workers. According to the executive director of the Council for Global Immigration, this year entities had only a 36 percent chance of having their requests granted.

While a popular program, H-1B visas are just one of many ways in which someone from another country could move to the U.S. Of course the average person is not aware of these options. Accordingly, to help determine the other routes that may be available, many find it beneficial to turn to an immigration lawyer. Our law firm handles matters of this nature. For information on how we may be able to you please see our website.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.